Removing An Old Rusty Toilet Seat Screws And Nut

[newbie99]

I am having trouble undoing the old rusty screws from a buttery nut underneath the toilet. The access to the butterfly nut is very tight if you could imagine that it is fitted underneath and out of sight position.
I can put my hand underneath the toilet and feel the nut but when I turn the screw, the screw just turns as I can't put a plier to grip it.

Any advice on how to tackle this problem before I ask a plumber to remove the whole toilet bowl?

[tonyav]

Can you not get a screwdriver to hold the screw while you turn the butterfly nut.

[bodeker]

Sounds good Tonyav

[Togo]

If you are just changing the seat newbie, take a hacksaw to it and stop struggling. Once the bolts are free in the toilet you can use a bolt cutter or hacksaw. Have your replacement seat on site otherwise you will have nothing to go on.

[douglas9401]

After Togo's gentle persuasion smear the new screws with Vaseline along their whole length to help stop rusting the next time you have to change it.

[newbie99]

I can use a screw driver to turn the screw but I can't use a plier to grip the butterfly nut. The nut is not in my sight. It is below, behind the bowl.

[newbie99]

The space is very tight, it is a bad design and I made a bad choice buying this toilet. It was good looking as it conceals bottom of the toilet but not when replacing the seat as I experience now.

[tonyav]

Quite a lot of modern toilets are like that these days, newbie. You just have to do it by feel.

[Togo]

Douglas most replacement loo seats now come with plastic nuts and bolts. Unless you want to "splash out" on a very expensive one. (*_^)

[alavahalf]

As a rule if I can't get hold of the nut with a proper pair of long nosed molegrips ... I always take a grinder to them and grind the screw head off... never fails.

[newbie99]

I have considered using g a grid er to remove the screw head. But I am concern about a slight slip of the grid er it will break the toilet bowl.

[beegeebee]

Plumbers merchant/DIY should be able to supply an elongated 'key' similar to the ones used for opening Gas/electricity boxes, to do the job.